The following websiteswere developed to support the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and to provide ways to bring a trans-disciplinary approach to classroom practices. The content areas covered are English Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

Middle School

Saving Smith IslandContent area: Science
Students use interactive media, data and online research to write an argument explaining the science behind one of the factors that weighs heavily on the future of Maryland's Smith Island.

Wind Farms and MarylandContent area: Science
Students view web videos, critique data and conduct online research in order to write an informative article about the use of wind farms in Maryland.

Ancient River Valley CivilizationsContent area: Social Studies
Students are asked to think like an archaeologist by selecting artifacts and analyzing primary and secondary sources to write an informative brochure article about the Ancient River Valley Civilizations.

Agribusiness in KenyaContent area: Social Studies
Students research policies, environmental topics and agricultural issues to write an argumentative debate defending or rejecting a new agribusiness in Kenya.

Arguing for ChangeContent area: English Language Arts
Students use fiction and nonfiction resources, interactives and multimedia to prepare an argumentative writing assignment to get classmates to stop bullying

What Affects the Choices We Make?Content area: English Language Arts
Students use fiction and nonfiction resources, multimedia, artwork and photography to help them write an argument for or against a planned TV program about choices and how to make them.

Overcoming ChallengesContent area: English Language Arts
Students use questions and sources to guide their research, and analyze fictional and nonfictional text, art, online videos and web interactive to help them write an explanation of a television program or video game project based on the theme of overcoming challenges.

High School

How Can Nitrogen Affect My Business?Content area: Science
Students use web videos, text and data to conduct online research in order to write an informative article about the development of algae blooms in Maryland's Deep Creek Lake.

Where Has All the SAV Gone?Content area: Science
Students use videos, text, data, and government and scientific websites to gather information and write an informational piece about submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay.

The Electoral CollegeContent area: Social Studies
Students use text and multimedia, and analyze primary and secondary sources to write an argument defending one of three main ideas related to the Electoral College.

Case Study: McCarthyism and the Cold WarContent area: Social Studies
Students analyze primary and secondary sources, and evaluate the connections between sources, to research information to write an informative article about Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Cold War

Searching for IdentityContent area: English Language Arts
Students use questions and fiction and nonfiction resources, art, videos and interactives to write a narrative about an event that had an impact on who they are now and who they may become in the future, as part of a larger project.